I love the bewildered look on people’s faces when I answer “busy” when they ask how the farm is during the winter. You see, there is this illusion that farmers don’t do much when it’s cold. But that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Growing in the South is a year round job. Our climate is such that we can work outside the majority of the year and have things growing year round. This is a blessing and a curse. It means you have to create your own down season. Although this past winter, the rain has created plenty of down time. It’s the first winter that I’ve run out of inside work to do during the rain. I’m usually looking for rainy days so I can finish my crop planning and paperwork!

So what have I been up to this winter: I’ll let the pictures do most of the talking. October began our hardy annual planting, better known as “cool flowers.”

Foxgloves

Snapdragons

Sweetpeas

November brought loads more planting— 1000’s of ranunculus, anemones, and poppies!

Poppies

Ranunculus

- followed by anemones

Tulips!

December roared in like a lion with the first snow storm of the season (and only snow storm so far). Spent lots of time crop planning, ordering seeds, plugs, and plants!

January finally brought about some sunny days and we started building our first hoop house on the farm. It’s still a work in progress but it’s getting there!

February brought the first flowers of the season-sweet little anemones. We sold a few for Valentine’s Day!

Spent a good part of February sick with the flu but managed to get well enough in time to attend the ASCFG “Business of Flower Farming” Conference in Denver.

And that brings us to here, the first day of March. It’s pouring rain outside as I write this but hopefully after a brief cold snap next week, the sun will shine and the flowers will burst forth!

If you’d like a chance to play with these beauties, sign up for one of our Spring Workshops!